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W. R. Berkley Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results

July 21, 2025 4:11 PM

Net Premiums Written Increased to a Record $3.4 Billion; Return on Equity of 19.1% and Operating Return on Equity of 20.0%

GREENWICH, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: WRB) today reported its second quarter 2025 results.

Summary Financial Data

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Second Quarter

Six Months

2025

2024

2025

2024

Gross premiums written

$

3,977,769

$

3,717,772

$

7,661,708

$

7,080,528

Net premiums written

3,351,439

3,126,779

6,484,742

5,978,070

Net income to common stockholders

401,288

371,909

818,860

814,380

Net income per diluted share

1.00

0.92

2.05

2.01

Operating income (1)

420,486

410,171

840,442

823,058

Operating income per diluted share (1)

1.05

1.02

2.10

2.03

Return on equity (2)

19.1

%

20.0

%

19.5

%

21.8

%

Operating return on equity (1) (2)

20.0

%

22.0

%

20.0

%

22.1

%

(1)

Operating income is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as net income excluding after-tax net investment gains (losses) and related expenses and after-tax net foreign currency gains (losses). Commencing with this quarter, the Company’s 2024 financial information has been restated to exclude after-tax net foreign currency gains (losses) from operating income to conform with this presentation.

(2)

Return on equity and operating return on equity represent net income and operating income, respectively, expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of beginning of year common stockholders’ equity.

Second quarter highlights included:

The Company commented:

Our strong performance continued into the second quarter of 2025, with an annualized return on beginning-of-year common stockholders' equity of 19.1%. Net income grew year-over-year, driven by higher underwriting gains and improved investment income, notwithstanding above-average industry catastrophe losses during the quarter. Book value per share grew 6.8%, before $223.8 million of capital returned to shareholders through special and ordinary dividends.

Our focus on business with the highest margin potential resulted in record quarterly net premiums written of $3.4 billion. Net investment income rose both year-over-year and sequentially to a quarterly record, fueled by higher yields on our expanding domestic fixed-maturity portfolio. The strength of our operating cash flow continues to drive growth in net investable assets, and our current new money rates remain comfortably above our average book yield, positioning us well for further investment income growth.

We continue to carefully manage the underwriting cycle in each market served by our specialized businesses. This disciplined approach has supported superior long-term, risk-adjusted returns and consistently lower volatility over decades. We remain confident in our ability to deliver exceptional value to shareholders throughout the remainder of 2025 and well into the future.

Webcast Conference Call

The Company will hold its quarterly conference call with analysts and investors to discuss its earnings and other information on July 21, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. eastern time. The conference call will be webcast live on the Company's website at https://ir.berkley.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx. Please log on early to register. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Company's website approximately two hours after the end of the conference call. Additional financial information can be found on the Company's website at https://ir.berkley.com/investor-relations/financial-information/quarterly-results/default.aspx.

About W. R. Berkley Corporation

Founded in 1967, W. R. Berkley Corporation is an insurance holding company that is among the largest commercial lines writers in the United States and operates worldwide in two segments of the property casualty business: Insurance and Reinsurance & Monoline Excess.

Forward Looking Information

This is a “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, including statements related to our outlook for the industry and for our performance for the year 2025 and beyond, are based upon the Company’s historical performance and on current plans, estimates and expectations. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the future plans, estimates or expectations contemplated by us will be achieved. They are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: the cyclical nature of the property casualty industry; the impact of significant competition, including new entrants to the industry; the long-tail and potentially volatile nature of the insurance and reinsurance business; product demand and pricing; claims development and the process of estimating reserves; investment risks, including those of our portfolio of fixed maturity securities and investments in equity securities, including investments in financial institutions, foreign governmental bonds, municipal bonds, mortgage-backed securities, loans receivable, investment funds, including real estate, merger arbitrage, energy-related and private equity investments; the effects of emerging claim and coverage issues; the uncertain nature of damage theories and loss amounts, including claims for cybersecurity-related risks; natural and man-made catastrophic losses, including as a result of terrorist activities; the impact of climate change, which may alter the frequency and increase the severity of catastrophe events; general economic and market activities, including inflation, the risk of recession, changing interest rates, the impact of tariffs and volatility in the credit and capital markets; the impact of the conditions in the financial markets and the global economy, and the potential effect of legislative, regulatory, accounting or other initiatives taken in response, on our results and financial condition; cyber security breaches of our information technology systems and the information technology systems of our vendors and other third parties; the use of artificial intelligence technologies by us or third-parties on which we rely could expose us to technological, security, legal, and other risks; the risk of future pandemics, as well as continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; foreign currency and political risks relating to our international operations; our ability to attract and retain key personnel and qualified employees; continued availability of capital and financing; the success of our new ventures or acquisitions and the availability of other opportunities; the availability of reinsurance; our retention under the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019; the ability or willingness of our reinsurers to pay reinsurance recoverables owed to us; other legislative and regulatory developments, including those related to business practices in the insurance industry; credit risk related to our policyholders, independent agents and brokers; changes in the ratings assigned to us or our insurance company subsidiaries by rating agencies; the availability of dividends from our insurance company subsidiaries; the effectiveness of our controls to ensure compliance with guidelines, policies and legal and regulatory standards; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results for the year 2025 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement we make. Any projections of growth in our revenues would not necessarily result in commensurate levels of earnings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Consolidated Financial Summary

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Second Quarter

Six Months

2025

2024

2025

2024

Revenues:

Net premiums written

$

3,351,439

$

3,126,779

$

6,484,742

$

5,978,070

Change in net unearned premiums

(253,254

)

(280,364

)

(374,176

)

(367,308

)

Net premiums earned

3,098,185

2,846,415

6,110,566

5,610,762

Net investment income

379,303

372,129

739,595

691,967

Net investment gains (losses):

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

30,533

(60,306

)

46,244

(48,803

)

Change in allowance for credit losses on investments

440

1,794

1,084

16,070

Net investment gains (losses)

30,973

(58,512

)

47,328

(32,733

)

Revenues from non-insurance businesses

128,839

125,705

257,748

246,696

Insurance service fees

32,757

27,597

61,686

52,917

Other income

751

698

1,284

1,196

Total Revenues

3,670,808

3,314,032

7,218,207

6,570,805

Expenses:

Loss and loss expenses

1,955,424

1,780,596

3,856,216

3,444,374

Other operating costs and expenses

1,039,307

892,935

1,989,217

1,761,524

Expenses from non-insurance businesses

122,437

121,120

248,801

239,727

Interest expense

31,777

31,708

63,504

63,436

Total expenses

3,148,945

2,826,359

6,157,738

5,509,061

Income before income tax

521,863

487,673

1,060,469

1,061,744

Income tax expense

(121,155

)

(115,788

)

(242,411

)

(247,824

)

Net Income before noncontrolling interests

400,708

371,885

818,058

813,920

Noncontrolling interest

580

24

802

460

Net income to common stockholders

$

401,288

$

371,909

$

818,860

$

814,380

Net income per share:

Basic

$

1.01

$

0.93

$

2.06

$

2.03

Diluted

$

1.00

$

0.92

$

2.05

$

2.01

Average shares outstanding (1):

Basic

397,016

400,273

396,972

401,295

Diluted

400,368

403,737

400,098

404,679

(1)

Basic shares outstanding consist of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period (including shares held in a grantor trust). Diluted shares outstanding consist of the weighted average number of basic and common equivalent shares outstanding during the period.

Business Segment Operating Results

(Amounts in thousands, except ratios) (1)

Second Quarter

Six Months

2025

2024

2025

2024

Insurance:

Gross premiums written

$

3,606,887

$

3,360,850

$

6,823,840

$

6,281,900

Net premiums written

3,013,703

2,810,448

5,708,158

5,256,163

Net premiums earned

2,728,784

2,484,569

5,371,291

4,883,338

Pre-tax income

512,672

490,053

1,022,177

968,202

Loss ratio

63.8

%

64.0

%

63.9

%

62.9

%

Expense ratio

28.3

%

28.4

%

28.0

%

28.4

%

GAAP Combined ratio

92.1

%

92.4

%

91.9

%

91.3

%

Reinsurance & Monoline Excess:

Gross premiums written

$

370,882

$

356,922

$

837,868

$

798,628

Net premiums written

337,736

316,331

776,584

721,907

Net premiums earned

369,401

361,846

739,275

727,424

Pre-tax income

127,299

124,449

247,679

252,074

Loss ratio

57.7

%

52.8

%

57.7

%

51.3

%

Expense ratio

29.7

%

29.0

%

28.7

%

29.4

%

GAAP Combined ratio

87.4

%

81.8

%

86.4

%

80.7

%

Corporate and Eliminations:

Net investment gains (losses)

$

30,973

$

(58,512

)

$

47,328

$

(32,733

)

Interest expense

(31,777

)

(31,708

)

(63,504

)

(63,436

)

Other expenses

(117,304

)

(36,609

)

(193,211

)

(62,363

)

Pre-tax loss

(118,108

)

(126,829

)

(209,387

)

(158,532

)

Consolidated:

Gross premiums written

$

3,977,769

$

3,717,772

$

7,661,708

$

7,080,528

Net premiums written

3,351,439

3,126,779

6,484,742

5,978,070

Net premiums earned

3,098,185

2,846,415

6,110,566

5,610,762

Pre-tax income

521,863

487,673

1,060,469

1,061,744

Loss ratio

63.1

%

62.6

%

63.1

%

61.4

%

Expense ratio

28.5

%

28.5

%

28.2

%

28.6

%

GAAP Combined ratio

91.6

%

91.1

%

91.3

%

90.0

%

(1)

Loss ratio is losses and loss expenses incurred expressed as a percentage of premiums earned. Expense ratio is underwriting expenses expressed as a percentage of premiums earned. GAAP combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio.

Supplemental Information

(Amounts in thousands)

Second Quarter

Six Months

2025

2024

2025

2024

Net premiums written:

Other liability

$

1,218,988

$

1,131,676

$

2,327,253

$

2,147,291

Short-tail lines (1)

706,298

643,101

1,306,490

1,175,442

Auto

448,678

408,178

837,832

756,760

Workers' compensation

340,891

332,432

681,498

637,064

Professional liability

298,848

295,061

555,085

539,606

Total Insurance

3,013,703

2,810,448

5,708,158

5,256,163

Casualty (2)

188,929

188,117

375,718

378,136

Property (2)

115,926

102,158

248,084

200,820

Monoline excess

32,881

26,056

152,782

142,951

Total Reinsurance & Monoline Excess

337,736

316,331

776,584

721,907

Total

$

3,351,439

$

3,126,779

$

6,484,742

$

5,978,070

Current accident year losses from catastrophes:

Insurance

$

77,631

$

86,632

$

148,248

$

114,082

Reinsurance & Monoline Excess

21,603

3,047

62,094

6,103

Total

$

99,234

$

89,679

$

210,342

$

120,185

Net Investment income:

Core portfolio (3)

$

328,363

$

329,971

$

645,303

$

661,147

Investment funds

27,268

25,476

54,291

(3,873

)

Arbitrage trading account

23,672

16,682

40,001

34,693

Total

$

379,303

$

372,129

$

739,595

$

691,967

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments:

Net realized (losses) gains on investments

$

(33,097

)

$

6,411

$

(37,333

)

$

(7,898

)

Change in unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities

63,630

(66,717

)

83,577

(40,905

)

Total

$

30,533

$

(60,306

)

$

46,244

$

(48,803

)

Other operating costs and expenses:

Policy acquisition and insurance operating expenses

$

882,099

$

811,997

$

1,720,345

$

1,603,529

Insurance service expenses

24,287

23,084

47,534

44,523

Net foreign currency losses (gains)

55,396

(10,118

)

74,774

(23,295

)

Other costs and expenses

77,525

67,972

146,564

136,767

Total

$

1,039,307

$

892,935

$

1,989,217

$

1,761,524

Cash flow from operations

$

703,806

$

881,330

$

1,447,624

$

1,627,565

Reconciliation of net income to operating income (4):

Net income

$

401,288

$

371,909

$

818,860

$

814,380

Pre-tax investment (gains) losses, net of related expenses

(30,973

)

58,631

(47,328

)

32,733

Pre-tax net foreign currency losses (gains)

55,396

(10,118

)

74,774

(23,295

)

Income tax benefit

(5,225

)

(10,251

)

(5,864

)

(760

)

Operating income after-tax

$

420,486

$

410,171

$

840,442

$

823,058

(1)

Short-tail lines include commercial multi-peril (non-liability), inland marine, accident and health, fidelity and surety, boiler and machinery, high net worth homeowners and other lines.

(2)

Includes reinsurance casualty and property and certain program management business.

(3)

Core portfolio includes fixed maturity securities, equity securities, cash and cash equivalents, real estate and loans receivable.

(4)

Operating income is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as net income excluding after-tax net investment gains (losses) and after-tax net foreign currency gains (losses). Net investment gains (losses) are computed net of related expenses, including performance-based compensatory costs associated with realized investment gains. Commencing with this quarter, the Company’s 2024 financial information has been restated to exclude after-tax net foreign currency gains (losses) from operating income to conform with this presentation. Management believes this measurement provides a useful indicator of trends in the Company’s underlying operations.

Selected Balance Sheet Information

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

June 30,

2025

December 31,

2024

Net invested assets (1)

$

31,577,384

$

29,780,638

Total assets

42,658,057

40,448,635

Reserves for losses and loss expenses

21,496,123

20,368,030

Senior notes and other debt

1,831,638

1,831,158

Subordinated debentures

1,010,168

1,009,808

Common stockholders' equity (2)

9,294,537

8,395,111

Common stock outstanding (3)

379,385

380,066

Book value per share (4)

24.50

22.09

Tangible book value per share (4)

23.88

21.46

(1)

Net invested assets include investments, cash and cash equivalents, trading accounts receivable from brokers and clearing organizations, trading account securities sold but not yet purchased and unsettled purchases.

(2)

As of June 30, 2025, reflected in common stockholders' equity are after-tax unrealized investment losses of $249 million and unrealized currency translation losses of $324 million. As of December 31, 2024, reflected in common stockholders' equity are after-tax unrealized investment losses of $517 million and unrealized currency translation losses of $417 million.

(3)

During the six months ended June 30, 2025, the Company repurchased 850,000 shares of its common stock for $49.2 million. During the three months ended June 30, 2025, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock. The number of shares of common stock outstanding excludes shares held in a grantor trust.

(4)

Book value per share is total common stockholders’ equity divided by the number of common shares outstanding. Tangible book value per share is total common stockholders’ equity excluding the after-tax value of goodwill and other intangible assets divided by the number of common shares outstanding.

Investment Portfolio

June 30, 2025

(Amounts in thousands, except percentages)

Carrying Value

Percent of Total

Fixed maturity securities:

United States government and government agencies

$

3,101,062

9.8

%

State and municipal:

Special revenue

1,353,385

4.3

%

State general obligation

284,130

0.9

%

Local general obligation

275,378

0.9

%

Corporate backed

184,200

0.6

%

Pre-refunded

77,477

0.2

%

Total state and municipal

2,174,570

6.9

%

Mortgage-backed securities:

Agency

3,787,350

12.0

%

Commercial

359,500

1.1

%

Residential - Prime

181,086

0.6

%

Residential - Alt A

1,723

0.0

%

Total mortgage-backed securities

4,329,659

13.7

%

Asset-backed securities

3,853,435

12.2

%

Corporate:

Industrial

3,672,546

11.6

%

Financial

3,452,175

11.0

%

Utilities

1,151,418

3.6

%

Other

482,637

1.5

%

Total corporate

8,758,776

27.7

%

Foreign government

1,875,654

6.0

%

Total fixed maturity securities (1)

24,093,156

76.3

%

Equity securities available for sale:

Common stocks

719,570

2.3

%

Preferred stocks

542,622

1.7

%

Total equity securities available for sale

1,262,192

4.0

%

Cash and cash equivalents (2)

2,076,351

6.6

%

Investment funds

1,492,258

4.7

%

Real estate

1,294,505

4.1

%

Arbitrage trading account

1,034,557

3.3

%

Loans receivable

324,365

1.0

%

Net invested assets

$

31,577,384

100.0

%

(1)

Total fixed maturity securities had an average rating of AA- and an average duration of 2.8 years, including cash and cash equivalents.

(2)

Cash and cash equivalents includes trading accounts receivable from brokers and clearing organizations, trading account securities sold but not yet purchased and unsettled purchases.

Karen A. Horvath

Vice President - External

Financial Communications

(203) 629-3000

Source: W. R. Berkley Corporation

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